Photo By 2nd Lt. Alan Abernethy | An Airman from the 94th Airlift Wing, Dobbins Air Reserve Base, Ga., wears a...... read more read more
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Low cloud decks, fog and cold rain covered Powidz Air Base, Poland, for much of October 2016.
Although conditions like these create challenges for flying tactical airlift missions, Airmen from the 94th Airlift Wing, Dobbins Air Reserve Base, Georgia, and the 86th Airlift Wing, Ramstein Air Base, Germany, worked hard to fulfill their mission there.
Together, the airlift units trained with the Polish air force in an effort to improve interoperability between the two nations during Aviation Detachment 17-1 in support of Operation Atlantic Resolve, Oct. 3-28, 2016.
Brig. Gen. Patrick Wade, U.S. Air Forces in Europe and Air Forces Africa mobilization assistant to the commander, met with U.S. Airmen and leadership members from Powidz AB during the training and spoke on the impact of the bilateral efforts.
“Conducting this training together builds upon the strong relationships and interoperability that exists between our two countries, allowing us to more effectively develop and improve ready air forces capable of maintaining regional security,” said Wade.
U.S. and Polish airmen trained on night-vision formation flying, C-130 Hercules fighter evasion engagements, and flew a capstone, five-ship formation flight that included cargo airdrops and a tactical formation landing, said Lt. Col. Terence Green, 94th AW mission commander for AvDet 17-1.
The formation flight was led by the Polish air force, which marked its first time leading that many aircraft, Green added. As expected, the threat of low cloud ceilings persisted on the final day of flying.
“The weather was a little touchy, but thankfully it was good enough for everyone to fly together and perform the airdrops,” said Maj. Andy Chapman, an AvDet 17-1 detachment commander for the 86th AW. “That’s what it’s all about; everyone coming together to complete the mission.”
Chapman said he and many members from the 86th AW had previously trained at Powidz AB and shared lessons learned from their experiences with the 94th AW crews, who were supporting the AvDet for the first time.
Since 2012, the Aviation Detachment has hosted approximately four, month-long rotations per year in Poland, said Lt. Col. Kris Padilla, 52nd Operations Group Detachment 1 commander. Two rotations usually include airlift units and the other two include fighter units.
The airlift missions here demonstrate the U.S. resolve to stand with Poland and other NATO allies to maintain the sovereignty of their territory and airspace, Wade said. These missions were flown in challenging conditions at night and with poor weather so that, if called upon, our forces are ready to accomplish the mission in the most difficult conditions possible.
| Date Taken: | 10.26.2016 |
| Date Posted: | 12.10.2016 15:02 |
| Story ID: | 217178 |
| Location: | PL |
| Web Views: | 130 |
| Downloads: | 1 |
This work, U.S., Polish Airmen collaborate for Operation Atlantic Resolve, by 2nd Lt. Alan Abernethy, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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